Arm Ornaments (Bazubands)

This pair of jewelled arm bands, known as bazubands, are each made of a series of table-cut diamonds set within a wide, flexible band of lattice motifs, which would have allowed the ornamented band to wrap more easily around the arm. At either end of the bazuband is a series of gold wrapped red silk threads (chedda), each terminating with a large emerald bead. Bazubands were generally worn as a pair on the upper bicep of each arm. They were an important element in the suite of jewellery worn by men and can frequently be seen in Mughal paintings of courtly life. Later Indian illustrations show that they were also worn by women at wedding ceremonies.